Spainish TET - Elche to Huescar 290KM

 "You should come for a few a days" said Barrie as we finished tweaking routes for his next trip.  The following Monday my bike was collected and by Saturday I was talking with him in Alicante. Great how these things unfold if you just day 'yes'

Moody. It's pretty damp today. 

I'd  taken the opportunity to meet with my mother the day before, who I'd not seen for 1.5yrs, due to covid. The reunion was a little boozy, so it was with a cloudy and somewhat sore head that I stood in the car park meeting new people and checking out bikes. 

There were approximately 10 chaps who had arranged to use Raid Assist for the Intercontinental Rally. As that was now cancelled for the second year running (pandemic) they decided to do a rally like experience in Spain.

I set off last, and like the runt of the litter I was trailing the main group for most of the day. ...or perhaps I was stalking them, or maybe following them like a bad smell? Depends on your outlook.  I caught up on three occasions when they stopped to regroup and what not.  

Each time I was glad when I did because I was ill prepared. I hadn't done the normal festidious routine of checking everything over. Like a flipping newbie I had managed to set off with out a phone charger, with a broken satnav holder, and without a base map in the GPS. This latter  problem meant I had no roads / hotels / petrol stations in the satnav, and later in the day when my phone died too, I had no way to contact anyone or find them. (Nor did I know the hotel they were staying at) 

Whilst the weather was not on my side, lady luck had, thankfully, decided to grace me with her presence. Just as I was running low of fuel, after almost 270km,  I fortuitously found a petrol station where the rest of the group were gathered.  Tom, the chap I met in Africa two yrs ago, and who features previously in this blog, kindly showed me the name of the hotel at the station. Furnished with that information I was able to make my own way and, eventually, barter with the hotelier for board and lodgings for the night. Nice chap, interesting place, great day. Time to sort my issues out. 

The hotel is built into the rock and the rooms are caves.